Gerry Adams renews call for a united Ireland and urges Kenny to draft new constitution

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has urged the Irish government to draw up a plan for Irish unity as soon as possible.

The veteran Republican, recently elected to the Irish parliament in the Louth constituency, has called on Prime Minister Enda Kenny to give the All-Ireland plan his immediate attention.

Speaking to the first of two Sinn Fein conferences on bringing the island of Ireland together, Adams demanded that Kenny work on a new constitution and other measures.

Adams told the conference on Irish unity: “Real social, economic and political change is not easily achieved but all those who have a genuine commitment towards building an Irish republic worthy of the name must work together towards that end.”

The Sinn Fein leader addressed a meeting that was also attended by former Ulster Democratic Party member David Adams, the Rev Gary Mason from East Belfast and former Lebanon hostage Brian Keenan.

“I call on the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) to commission a Green Paper on Irish unity which would address all aspects of this national and democratic project, including its political, social, economic, cultural, legal, administrative and international dimensions,” said Adams.

“It makes no sense for an island of six million people to have a two state structure with duplication of services.”

Adams called for an end to duplication of services north and south and said a federated Ireland could be part of the solution while stressing that the views of unionists needed to be taken into account.

He challenged Kenny to produce a new constitution which would be "discussed, debated and agreed by all on this island, which would enshrine citizens’ rights in law."

“Citizens north and south are looking for something new,” said the Sinn Fein president.

“They want a society which is equitable and just. The 1916 Proclamation is the template for this. It used language that was appropriate for that time.

“We need a new all-Ireland constitution that enshrines the principles and ideals of 1916 and gives expression to them for the 21st century.”